The skies across Betamy were darkening, turning and swirling into deep reds and bruised purples. Tella stood out on the ramparts of the castle and watched the sky. Only an hour ago it had been clear but suddenly this had moved in, and as she understood it, the rest of the world was experiencing similar weather. If you could call it weather.
“It came from the North.” Collin said quietly from behind her. Tella slowly nodded. “You know what’s north, right?” he asked.
“The gateway between worlds.” Tella said hollowly. Collin nodded.
“This could be bad.” He said.
Yash closed his eyes.
“Indeed. It is your death that I seek.” He said quietly. “And in a moment we can proceed.” Sir Michael watched him, a slightly confused look on his face. A gust of wind and a feeling of power suddenly filled the hall. They both turned to see a form materializing outside the door. Small feet touched the floor, and the wind dissipated.
“Wanderer.” Yash said quietly, “That’s what they call you? Or do you prefer Gabriel?” the wanderer watched him for a moment then frowned.
“You called me forth falsely.” She said. “The time of this world has not come.” Yash blinked, frowning.
“And how have you come to this conclusion?” he asked.
“I have been shown a soul whose purity could not exist if this were truly the time of destruction.” The wanderer said.
“Whose soul is that?” Yash demanded, angry that his plans had been tampered with. He strongly suspected Hazael and Nathanael had a hand in this.
“The very soul that resides within that sword at this moment. The soul of William Kapino.” The wanderer said. “Now then, why don’t you retreat, since you plans have gone awry?” Yash blinked, watching her, a small smile developing on his lips. The wanderer stared at him.
“You think I don’t know?” he asked. “You think I don’t know the binding facts that you must act by?”
“What are you talking about?” the wanderer asked icily.
“The answer lies within what you are Gabriel.” Yash said. “You are that girl, the perceived mortal, and at the same time you are the being, the being of power that announces destruction or hope. This is true?” the wanderer did not answer him. Yash smiled.
“Do you think I would deal with you so lightly if I did not know everything about your nature? You are a very dangerous tool to play with if I were not to know what rules bind you.” He said. “For instance, I know that if you deem the world unfit for life you will announce its destruction. If you see humanity in need of hope, then you will announce its hope. Yet, there is another principal, one you all kept secret.” Sir Michael and the wanderer both looked slightly startled. Yash laughed and quoted, “When the great warrior falls to the hands of darkness, his blood shall awaken the messenger and her horn shall sound long and loud and the time of endings shall come, and none will be able to stop the destruction.” Yash said. “That quote, it’s talking about you, isn’t it? You are that great warrior, who’s blood will awaken destruction.” he said, watching Sir Michael. They both stared at Yash, trying to hide their horror.
“This is not what you want Yash.” Sir Michael said. “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t dictate to me!” Yash shouted, turning to him, “You’ve done that long enough!” and with that he swung the sword up and rushed at the figure before him.
Maloom Vraido climbed up the stairs, winding their way up the side of the tower. He looked out across the countryside and at the blood colored sky and shivered, as he reached the top step.
“Peculiar, isn’t it?” Avery asked. Maloom’s head snapped around, as he set eyes on the Hailian. They stood for a moment as Maloom took in his surroundings. They were at the top of one of the highest towers, standing on the flat roof of it with nothing more than a stone high railing, lining the rounded towers edges. There were no guards either. Maloom watched Avery suspiciously.
“Why did you request that I come up here?” he asked.
“You should see the sky.” Avery said merely. Maloom scowled, still wary.
“There are no guards.” He said.
“Guards have better things to do than follow you around.” Avery said a bit coolly.
“I think you might feel differently if I were to push you off the side of this tower.” Maloom said glaring at him. “Are you trying to show me that you trust me?”
“Why would I trust you?” Avery said, still watching the deepening sky. Maloom growled, growing tired of these mind games.
“Because you’re a stupid Hailian! A demon! A lying, thieving thing!” he shouted, growing angry. He paused a moment, then lowered his voice, speaking quietly, “You come into Betamy taking our jobs! And speaking differently, expecting us to roll over for you and give everything to you! And you’re all so arrogant, thinking your better than Betamians, and don’t tell me that isn’t true. Hailians build their huge floating capitol, and live above all the strife we Betamians had to go through, and you look down at us from your pristine little walls and laugh at the dirty slow-witted Betamians.”
“… The sky is really something else.” Avery said quietly, not seeming to have heard Maloom. Maloom watched him, and then turned to the sky. It was getting worse.
“Do you think it’s the end of the world?” Avery asked.
“You wouldn’t like that would you?” Maloom asked laughing. “You’re frightened.”
“Are you frightened?” Avery asked him.
“Of course not. I have my faith.” Maloom scoffed.
“… Faith is valuable.” Avery said, still not moving his gaze from the sky.
“… Do you have faith?” Maloom asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Avery smiled, but still did not move his eyes.
“Faith in what?” he asked.
“… Faith, faith in… something else… the existence of something beyond this life.” Maloom said.
“I cannot say.” Avery said.
“Then you don’t have faith.” Maloom proclaimed.
“… Faith is much too broad a term to be thrown about so lightly.” Avery said, “You should use it sparingly.”
“What is that suppose to mean?” Maloom demanded.
“It means that there are more things in this world than you or I have dreamed of.” Avery laughed into the wind, “And then there are the things we do accept, the truths we hold dearest to our hearts that we do not understand. What is it that gives us the power to hold such forces within ourselves?” he turned finally eyeing Maloom, his eyes burning, “Forces- such as love and hatred, for they are the strongest among these mysterious emotions- these forces we harbor inside ourselves, with no objections, though we do not understand them.” he breathed and paused a moment. Maloom stared at him, obviously unnerved by this outburst. Avery sighed and said, “Forgive me. I’m making speeches.”
“… Speeches that make no sense.” Maloom said eying him. “Are you mad?” he asked. Again Avery laughed, and turned his gaze back to the sky. The red light of the sun cast an eerie red tint over his pail skin, and lit his eyes in fire. Indeed, by this light Maloom could have easily said that the Hailian that stood before him, was insane. Avery smiled and answered,
“Madness is much too broad a term.”
Fairien’s eyes stared forward, unfocused. His body was still, as was his mind. He had completely shut down.
Without the power…
Without the power you are nothing.
Fairien’s eyes blinked.
Nothing?
No, that wasn’t right. He was still… something. Was he alive? He couldn’t tell, he didn’t feel alive, he had never felt like this before. He felt terribly empty and yet… All that he was, was not gone. In fact…
His fingers curled.
Now that the power was gone, he wondered if he was gone. Had the power been his soul? Or had if been something else… If it had been his soul what was he now?
His body moved, lifting itself up into a sitting position. He looked around the tall ceiling marble room, its archways far above him.
He wasn’t Fairien anymore. Fairien had been a creation he had made, something that held his true self while it slept. And now with the power removed, the power to sustain that creation, he was Fairien no longer. He rose and stared before him.
There was a battle going on. There was a flash of a weapon, and sounds of struggle. Someone was shouting and there were crashing sounds as the weapon missed its target again and again. But it would not be long before the weapon found its mark.
That weapon.
It held what he had been. He watched it, feeling the power within the thing and how it was being twisted against its will to serve a purpose it did not want, but knew no way to resist. And then there was something else within it. His eyes froze to the sword feeling it out.
There was something in that sword that knew him. Not what he had been, but what he truly was. He stared, confused. How could this be? How could something outside of himself know him truly when he had only just now cast off his outer shell?
“Will.” he felt his lips say. His mind did not know a Will and yet there was something attached to this name that he knew.
On a level he realized that it had not been Will exactly that he had been attached to, but the essence of what Will was, his soul. And it was this essence and soul now that he felt in the sword.
He called out to it.
Yash shouted in fury and jumped, cornering Sir Michael against a wall.
“Now!” he shouted. “You can’t escape!” and rushed forward. He expected another attempt at dodging, but there was none. Yash stared almost in surprise as the sword buried itself into his victim’s chest. Sir Michael watched him, his eyes soft and peaceful. Behind them the wanderer screamed, grabbing her head in horror.
“Noo!” she screamed. “No!” Yash stared still, trying to make his face smile, trying to feel something of triumph but he couldn’t. Only numbness held him. The wanderer was sobbing now. Sir Michael closed his eyes.
“Gabriel. Don’t cry.” He said quietly. The destruction was climbing into his body trying to strangle him. He was helpless to it.
Yash caught his breath and pulled away, his knees going weak. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! He stumbled over a chair and fell, his eyes still frozen to his victim.
He had imagined feeling lightened, or vindicated, but now as he watched he could feel the destruction, the poison, spreading through the body of something so holy, so great and noble, and it had been he that had done this poisoning. He turned suddenly and stared at the wanderer.
“Why are you crying?!” he shouted. The wanderer opened her eyes and watched him a moment. “Why are you crying?!” he shouted.
“He is my brethren. As he is yours.” She said. “So why aren’t you crying?”
“W-What?” Yash asked. But he didn’t have time to ponder her words. He jumped up, sensing someone else’s presence. Fairien stood behind him, watching him as he entered the room. Yash blinked. There was something about him that was different.
Fairien’s eyes moved across the room, gazing at the scene before him. He called again, holding up a hand, drawing the presence to him.
There was a suddenly darkness, as though a cloud had passed over the sun. The brightness of the city was gone. Yash looked up through the windows, and saw that dark clouds were spreading over the reddened sky, blotting out light.
“… It’s time.” A voice said. Yash turned quickly, seeing the wanderer looking past him, a clear yet far away expression on her face. The wanderer shuddered and closed her eyes. The windows blew open and gusts of cold air filed the room, blowing their hair in the wind. Fairien, however, took no notice. Yash stood up, watching.
This was the end of the world.
Darkness had spread over their world and now they were certain of disaster. There wasn’t anything they could do, but watch. They did not know what this threat was, but somehow, they knew that it was the end.
Tella turned from the window, not wanting to watch anymore. She felt cold and empty and alone. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time.
In fact, she could recall the last time she felt like this very easily. It had been right after Fairien died, when the wanderer had come. When she had heard the reports of the attack on Fairien, she and Avery had run out into the woods with the investigation team. They had searched and searched for Fairien’s body out there with the bodies of his comrade, but hadn’t found him, yet they knew he was dead. Finally, late in the evening Avery had convinced her to go back to the castle. They had returned and Tella had ducked into one of the private rooms to cry. She remembered Avery holding her while she cried, as they sat together in that dim room.
“Avery?” she had asked.
“Mm?”
“… Have you ever been in love?” she asked. She had never asked Avery anything like that before. Beyond telling about Hailia and his duties there, he had never spoken of his family or friends. She had always been hesitant to ask him about those things. Avery had paused a moment and for a second Tella thought he wouldn’t answer.
“… Once. A long time ago.” He said quietly. “… So, I know how it is, to loose someone you love.”
“… Loose?” Tella asked. “… Did the Areans…?”
“Yes. In one of the raids on our Deocrates.” Avery said very quietly, his eyes glazing in sadness, “It was a terribly brutal raid. Many died that day.” Tella had stayed silent for a moment, then asked quietly,
“… You won’t leave, will you?” Avery shook his head and hugged her.
“Remember what I promised you and your sisters when you mother died?” he asked. “I told you then, I won’t leave you, I won’t even let myself die, until I know that you don’t need me any more.”
“I won’t ever not need you.” Tella said.
“Ah.” was all Avery said. They sat a while longer before Avery told her that they had to go tend to the wanderer.
It had been the first night of their adventure, as Tella recalled. It was that night that had put her here, leading up to the present. She looked up through the curtains of the palace room. It was getting darker.
Avery moved to the side and looked down over the shear edge of the tower. He paused a moment, then climbed up in the rail, standing against the sky, gazing upward. Maloom stared in shock for a moment then shouted,
“What are you doing? You’re going to die!” but Avery did not answer. Instead he closed his eyes.
Slowly a small glow began to grow around his body. Maloom frowned in wonder. It almost looked like he was performing a summoning, but he wasn’t speaking.
“… What are you doing?” he asked in awe.
“… Pleading.” Avery answered.
As Tella looked through the window a light caught her eye. It shone from atop the northern tower. She frowned a peered closer only to gasp. It was Avery.
Suddenly more lights appeared out in the dark terrain. Tella watched them, wondering silently what he was doing and what these lights were when she realized that the darkness she was looking out into was Terriba. The lights were coming from within the city.
Hailians.
The lights were Hailians.
Town by town the Hailians of Betamy stopped, and stared off into space, as though picking up a signal. Betamians around them would watch in surprise as their neighbors closed their eyes and began to glow. Soon, all of Betamy was alight, and then the brightness spread through Area, Iyokia, and into Hailia itself. Their world was aglow with the power of the Hailians.
Maloom watched this in wonder, seeing the sky lit, in all directions.
“… What are you doing?” he asked, this time in an almost reflective tone.
“Pleading.” Avery said again.
Within the bright city in the great hall, laying on the floor, was Azrael. He moved slightly, and felt his eyelids open, almost involuntarily. Something was pulling him up. He stood and moved into the room before him. Fairien stood in the doorway, his eyes locked on the sword, still embedded within Sir Michael.
The sword…
It was glowing. Azrael gasped, feel himself in the sword, feeling the power of the Hailians calling to him from the sword, which held the very power of their creation.
But there was something elese in the room too. Something even more powerful. The wanderer stood, looking frightened. As Azrael watched her he realized that she wasn’t a timeless being with no heart. She was the wanderer, a girl, who was very scared right now. Her eyes met his.
She knew what she was, she knew her fate and she could not deny the destruction if the powers of the universe willed that destruction, but at the same time she was that small girl, who longed for the smiles and love of her friends. She blinked once and Azrael could see the tendrils of darkness rising up to consume her. She saw them too and her eyes widened. Brilliant light shone from her and suddenly she was robed in white silk, while transparent luminescent wings appeared behind her.
She opened her mouth, about to speak.
“No! Will!” Fairien screamed suddenly, rushing forward to the sword. The wanderer stopped, watching a moment, her expression faint hope.
“Will!” Fairien shouted again grabbing the sword, which only shone brighter as his fingers touched it.
Yash awakened from his trance and sprung up to stop Fairien, but found his feet sliding out from under him as a power knocked into him. He hit the side of a table and collapsed, only to see Azrael watching him, ready to hit him again if he rose.
It didn’t really matter, Yash thought. There wasn’t anything that could stop the destruction now.
Inside Fairien’s mind he called again. Will’s soul responded faintly, as though it weren’t quite sure it recognized him. Fairien gripped the sword tighter and closed his eyes. To his horror he realized that Will’s soul was almost burned out, as it seeped from the sword into Sir Michael’s body. It was Will’s soul- the soul of a mortal, delivered into the body by the sword of destruction- that was the deadly poison killing Sir Michael now. The process was almost complete, until Fairien had called out to Will. It was this call that made Will’s soul stop, and resist its diffusion.
Something was calling him, bringing him back into existence, for, how could he be called for if he didn’t exist? This very idea was bringing him back from the oblivion he had been fading away into.
Will!
Will!
Will… That was his name. Will moved toward the call, pulling himself back into the sword. Fairien let out a cry of happiness and gripping the sword tighter he pulled it out of its victim. Sir Michael gasped and opened his eyes, suddenly free of the poison that had been filling him.
Yash shouted in surprise and disbelief, watching the special before him.
“… This isn’t possible!” he cried. The wanderer was watching her eyes wide as relief began to spread through her body. The tendrils of darkness were receding and the wild wind began to calm. Yash stood frozen as the world returned to normal around him.
He wouldn’t be defeated. He could be…! Yash choked, looking down, feeling tears coming to his eyes.
“I should have known.” He said quietly.
“Yash.” Azrael said, his voice hard, “You’ve failed. Leave.”
“… No.” Sir Michael murmured, standing, “You can’t leave, can you Yash?” he asked. Yash felt his breath coming quickly as his eyes moved up to watch them all. They all stared back at him, except for Fairien, who still seemed captivated by the sword as he held it gently in his hands.
“Nothing it seems will destroy you…” Yash said quietly. “And yet, it seems I can die, again and again…” he smiled sadly. “I suppose then, I wish you good luck in the future.” He took a step forward then let out an anguished cry, lunging at Fairien. Fairien’s head jerked up too late to stop Yash as Yash snatched the sword from his hands. Fairien shouted in alarm as Yash moved too fast for him to see, turning the sword to Fairien and thrust it deep into his chest. Fairien cried out in pain and shock as his insides burst. Yash let go of the sword, then ran to the window and leapt out, not bothering to open his wings. He fell.
“Michael!” Azrael screamed as Fairien fell to the floor. He ran to Fairien and helped catch him on his fall down. Fairien coughed, and slumped against Azrael. Azrael watched panicked, and looked up to see Sir Michael watching.
“Help him!” he pleaded. The plea was met with silence. Fairien smiled, his eyes glazing.
“Will…” he murmured. “… I can feel Will.” he closed his eyes letting his muscles relax.
“Michael!” Azrael shouted, “Fairien!” From out in the hall Minerva awoke, hearing Azrael’s shouts. She groaned, and pulled herself up, blinking, to try and clear her vision.
“Azrael…?” she murmured. She gasped as her eyes cleared and she understood what she was seeing. “Oh!” she rushed into the room and knelt beside Azrael and Fairien.
“W-What-” she began.
“… You two…?” Fairien murmured.
“Yes?” Azrael asked.
“… Heal Will’s body.” Fairien said quietly. Azrael and Minerva looked at each other, wondering why Fairien was requesting this, since Will was already dead.
“Michael… He’s-” Minerva began. Fairien winced painfully.
“Please. Heal him.” he pleaded.
“A-Ah… Yes. Of course we will.” Azrael said.
“Now.” Fairien said, his voice on the brink of giving out. He was loosing blood fast.
“I’ll take care of it.” Sir Michael said. There was a glow before them on the floor and Will’s body appeared. His wounds slowly closed as light moved through him. Fairien’s eyes opened slightly at the light and a smile came to his lips, and he lost consciousness.
Will stood on a threshold. He wasn’t sure what it was, but there were forces pulling at him, demanding action from him. He wasn’t sure which way to go until he head someone call to him.
“What are you doing, standing here like that?” a voice said to him. “You always debate things. Don’t you ever act on impulse?” Will blinked a moment, then smiled.
“No. That’s what you do.” He said. “I’m the one who is careful.” The voice laughed and Fairien appeared before him. Will watched him a moment.
“Am I dead?” he asked. Fairien watched him a moment and didn’t reply.
“What do you think?” he asked. “Do you want to be dead? Do you want to rest?” Will considered this.
“I don’t know.” He said. Fairien laughed again.
“You know, I can’t stand indecisiveness.” He said.
“You called me.” Will said suddenly remembering something. Fairien nodded. “You called me back from disappearing completely, and now I have my soul.”
“No.” Fairien said. “You are the soul. You are all that is left of Will Kapino.” Will peered closer at Fairien.
“… And you are the soul of Fairien, Michael, aren’t you?” he asked. Fairien’s closed his eyes and smiled, not answering.
“You wouldn’t have responded to anything less.” He said. Will nodded.
“I see.” He said.
“… Are you ready to rest?” Fairien asked. Will stared into he nothingness a moment then let his eyes move back to Fairien. He smiled. Fairien watched him a moment, then smiled as well, understanding.
“Then come into me.” He said, “And let go of the sword.” Will stared at him a moment, then let himself go. He could almost feel his being, flowing through space. His mind moved back, remembering when he had become water. It was like that now, but even better.
Fairien’s eyes opened and he reached down and gripped the sword handle, his eyes staring off into space. Azrael blinked, suddenly at the movement.
“Michael?” he asked. Fairien tightened his grip on the sword and pulled it out of him, tossing it away with what little strength he had left. Then, he pulled himself up, gasping for breath.
“Michael?!” Minerva shouted, touching his shoulder. He didn’t respond to her. Azrael froze, watching Fairien, suddenly understanding.
“He has two souls within him.” he said in awe.
“W-What?” Minerva asked. Azrael smiled.
“He’s got Will’s soul in him.” they watched as Fairien moved to Will’s body and knelt beside it and held his hands up over Will’s body, closing his eyes. Slowly he moved his hand down, touching Will’s chest lightly. They all watched as the power of Will’s soul moved through Fairien, into his hand, and then down, into the body lying in front of him. Fairien pulled back suddenly, breathing quickly, staring down at Will. Will’s mouth opened slightly as he breathed in and his eyes fluttered open.
“W-Will…?” Azrael murmured in amazement. Fairien smiled, and then his eyes rolled up in his head and he slumped over. Minerva cried out in alarm. Azrael blinked and looked down at Fairien.
“Ah, don’t worry.” He said, “He’s just fainted.”
Avery opened his eyes, as the signal changed. Slowly his lips moved into a weak smile. Maloom blinked, watching him as the glow began to die around the Hailian’s body.
“What is it?” he asked. Avery tried to answer but suddenly felt his body loose it power as the light around him flickered out. His body gave out below him, sucked dry of energy. His eyes closed and he let go of consciousness.
Maloom shouted in surprise as Avery fell, about to topple off the side of the tower. He reached out, catching Avery’s body and pulled him back from the edge, shouting curses at the Hailian.
“What are you doing idiot?!” he shouted. “Stupid Hailians! Think they can fly! I always said they were delusional idiots!” he shouted, but his voice had lost its malice as he shakily lowered Avery’s body to the floor. Avery’s eyes opened slightly and he stared up at the sky. It was calm again and he knew the signal had been right.
“Everything will be okay now.” He whispered. “The danger has passed… Our plea was answered.” And with that he closed his eyes and slide into sleep.
Will groaned and sat up, rubbing his head and looking around.
“… I feel like shit.” He murmured. “What’s going on here?” he stopped, his eyes resting on Sir Michael. He frowned. “Who are you?” he asked. Sir Michael smiled.
“Ah,” he said. “So you can see me now.” Will blinked growing pail, as he realized how rude he had just been. There was a light silvery laugh from the corner. They turned to see the wanderer walking toward them. Her robes and wings were gone and she was dressed again in her simple mortal clothes again. Will smiled.
“Hey wanderer.” He said. “We keep meeting in the strangest places. What brings you here?” she knelt by him and smiled sweetly.
“Oh you know, destruction.” She said. Will frowned.
“Hey, hey, don’t joke about that.” He said and paused awkwardly. “Eh… So, what… are you now?” he asked. She looked at him.
“I’m the wanderer. I always have been.” She said, and then looked away. “… It’s just that, now I’m aware of a part of myself that I didn’t know existed.”
“… Ah yes.” Sir Michael’s voice came from behind them. “So then wanderer, what do you intend? Will you go back to being a mortal, or will you take your place among the beings of power?” the girl watched him a moment, then frowned.
“I don’t know yet.” She said. “I suppose I’ll go back to being a mortal, though I know that eventually I’ll have to take my place.” Sir Michael nodded.
“You’re power calls for you to take that place.” He smiled slightly, “But I don’t suppose you have to take it yet.” The wanderer nodded.
“We’ll see then.” She said.
Yash tumbled down, endlessly. It was almost as though had known from the beginning, he mused. He knew his destination now. He could feel them, waiting in between space for a purpose they didn’t know of yet. He moved toward them.
Hazael and Nathanael stood together in between dimensions, staring off, waiting. They watched calmly as Yash approached them and stop before them. They could see what he desired. Wordlessly Hazael opened his hand, making a long spear appear. He gripped it and moved forward.
Yash felt it pierce him and he knew, if he denied the death it would not come to him. He was immortal and a spear could not give him death. He gave himself death.
And then, he was no more.